Excel 2013 High CPU Usage

Anonymous
2013-10-21T13:21:14+00:00

We work on a product that uses Excel, we are now testing all aspects of Excel 2013. During these tests, we seem to have encountered a problem where excel suddenly causes high CPU usage by only drawing some shapes. We have been able to minimize the problem into the following few steps:

  • Open a new, clean workbook
  • Draw an oval, give it a material (right-click, choose “Format Shape”, click “Effects”, “3D Format”, “Material”. Choose any material.)
  • Duplicate the Shape four times, producing Oval2, 3, 4 and 5.
  • Group Oval2 and 3. Group Oval 4 and 5.
  • Press Alt-F10, in the selection window, hide the group containing Oval2 and 3.
  • Deselect everything (!) by clicking in an empty cell.

Now observe the task manager. On an I7 Windows 7 PC, Excel now runs 4 cores at around 50%. Also, OnTime functions are not being called anymore because of this rendering bug. Once you select any shape, or un-hide the hidden group, Excel becomes quiet once again. Also, the problem can be prevented from happening by removing the materials in the shapes.

This bug (?) seems to happen also on most of our more complicated applications, and it would take lots of work to re-design everything not to use materials. Can anyone confirm this problem, provide a workaround?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-13T05:56:10+00:00

    Hey!

    Have the same issue with Excel 2013 on a Windows 7 computer.

    It's really annoying and hope that it could be fixed soon.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-10T09:46:13+00:00

    Hi!

    This problem isn't related to printer either.

    I've checked Office 2013 x32 and x64 on:

    1. Windows 7 x64 RTM
    2. Windows 7 x64 with all updates
    3. Windows 8.1 x64 RTM
    4. Windows 8.1 x64 with all updates
    5. WIndows 10 build 9926 with all updates

    The problem still exist.

    https://cloud.mail.ru/public/5fdb0995f7f5/Office%202013%20x64%20-%20Windows%2010.png

    This screenshot shows the calling stack of Excel 2013 x64 on Windows 10 while copy via Ctrl+C on any cell range.

    https://cloud.mail.ru/public/fd10a41b1a01/Copy.xlsx

    The file itself.

    You may freely redistrubute this file.

    File contains cyrillic symbols.

    In my case to reproduce the problem you must do these steps:

    1. Open file
    2. Select any unfilled cell range 
    3. Press Ctrl+C
    4. Watch for CPU in task manager.

    You may prolong the problem if you make 4-5 copies of this file and open it before copying range of cells. This will give you more time to watch Excel is shredding your CPU.

    On my 4-core i7-4700HQ copy takes about 5-7 seconds.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-10T09:01:49+00:00

    Hello,

    What are the steps you have tried to resolve this issue?

    Where are the files saved?

    Do you have a printer connected to the computer?

    You may change the default printer to 'Microsoft XPS Document Writer' using the following link and check if it works as expected.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/windows7/Change-your-default-printer


    I hope the above information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.

    Thank you.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-27T14:43:42+00:00

    I don't use preview panel in Explorer and problem exist.

    This isn't related.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-02-27T14:35:53+00:00

    could you try to "Disable" the "Show preview handlers in preview pane" ? following this link and let me know if that solve your pbs ? 

    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/35233-preview-pane-hide-show-preview-handlers-windows.html

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